it would be madness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it would be madness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a certain action or idea is irrational or unreasonable. Example: "To invest all our savings in a single venture? It would be madness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With this in mind, it would be madness for Israel to lower its guard.

The New York Times

It would be madness.

The Guardian

It would be madness to carp about that.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be madness to change now," Cerezo said.

The Guardian - Sport

And, from here, it would be madness not to pop through to the Duomo.

The Guardian - Travel

It would be madness for the government not to listen to these voices".

The Guardian

In short, he says, it would be madness not to do it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The ones at the front know it would be madness to try and swim.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He said it would be madness to change economic direction with the job half done.

The Guardian

It would be madness to cut ourselves off from a rich single market of 500 million people.

The New York Times

With the threat of a double-dip recession looming large, it would be madness to cut public spending now.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it would be madness" to express a strong disagreement with a proposed course of action, especially when emphasizing potential negative consequences.

Common error

While effective, "it would be madness" can lose its impact if used too frequently. Vary your language with alternatives like "it would be foolish" or "it would be unwise" to maintain a balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it would be madness" functions as an evaluative expression, typically used to strongly dissuade or criticize a potential course of action. It frames the action as illogical and likely to have negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it would be madness" is a widely used and grammatically sound expression for conveying strong disapproval of a particular course of action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is primarily found in news and media contexts, and its function is to express a strong opinion or warning. While "madness" might lean towards informality, the phrase as a whole is considered neutral in register. When using this phrase, it's best to emphasize potential negative outcomes and consider alternative expressions to avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it would be foolish

Replaces "madness" with "foolish", suggesting a lack of wisdom or judgment.

it would be unwise

Substitutes "madness" with "unwise", indicating a lack of prudence or caution.

it would be absurd

Replaces "madness" with "absurd", emphasizing the ridiculousness of the action.

it would be preposterous

Substitutes "madness" with "preposterous", highlighting the outrageousness of the idea.

that would be insane

Uses "insane" instead of "madness", conveying a stronger sense of mental instability or irrationality.

that would be lunacy

Replaces "madness" with "lunacy", suggesting extreme foolishness or derangement.

it would be sheer folly

Uses "sheer folly" to emphasize the foolishness and lack of sense in the action.

that's a recipe for disaster

Shifts the focus to the negative consequences of the action, rather than its inherent irrationality.

that's asking for trouble

Highlights the potential problems and difficulties that would arise from the action.

it's a terrible idea

Simplifies the sentiment, expressing a strong disapproval of the plan or action.

FAQs

What does "it would be madness" mean?

The phrase "it would be madness" signifies that a particular action or decision would be extremely unwise, irrational, or foolish. It implies that the action would likely lead to negative consequences or be completely illogical.

How can I use "it would be madness" in a sentence?

You can use "it would be madness" to express strong disapproval or disagreement with a proposed action. For example: "It would be madness for Israel to lower its guard".

What are some alternatives to "it would be madness"?

Alternatives include "it would be foolish", "it would be unwise", or "that would be insane", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it would be madness" a formal or informal expression?

The expression "it would be madness" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in news and media or general discussions rather than highly formal academic writing.